The German tyre manufacturer Schwalbe introduced the Eddy Current presented the first explicit E-MTB tyre last autumn. Now Michelin also has a specialist tyre designed to put the finishing touches to motorised off-road bikes. But what distinguishes the Michelin E-Wild from its colleagues in the classic tyre line?
Basically, the two tyre giants agree: weight plays a subordinate role for E-MTBs. At just over a kilo (front tyre) and over 1.2 kilos (rear tyre), the Michelin tyres are heavy. However, they remain slightly lighter than Schwalbe's Eddy Current combination. Investments have been made in puncture protection, grip and durability. The E-Wild has specific tread patterns for the front and rear wheels, which it also has in common with its Schwalbe counterpart. The treads are taken from the company's own enduro tyre series. For the time being, the E-Wild will only be available in 27.5 inch, but the tyre should be available from March 2019.
The facts about the Michelin E-Wild E-MTB tyre
- Separate versions for front and rear wheel
- Dimensions: 27.5 x 2.6 inches and 27.5 x 2.8 inches
- Weights: from 1220 g (rear) or from 1000 g (front)
- Additional puncture protection
- Triple (rear) or double rubber compound
Is a special E-MTB tyre the better choice? For whom is the switch worthwhile? And how do rolling resistance and weight affect the reach of an E-MTB? We used the Eddy Current to test whether the E-MTB specialist tyres are really better. Find out for whom the new tyre category makes sense in EMTB 1/2019, on newsstands from 12 March!
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
